Pad holding and feeding device



Sept. 10, 1946.

M. DES SAUR v PAD HOLDING AND FEEDING DEVICE Filed OGt. 23, 1944 INVEN TOR. Memo ans-Awe Patent'ed Sept. 10, 1946 PAD HOLDING AND FEEDING DEVICE Murray Dessaur, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to Murray Dessaur and Richard D. Gale Application October 23, 1944, Serial No; 559,972

, 1 The present invention is directed to an abrasive composition, particularly to the type consisting essentially of steel or similar Wool, usually impregnate-d with a soap or other detergent.

Steel wool of this character has been in common use for a considerable time for various purposes. In particular, it has been used for the cleaning of pots and pans where particles of food have become strongly adherent to the utensils in the process of cooking. Such steel wool, usually in the form of pads,.was effective for the desired purpose but there were a number of disadvantages inherent in the use thereof. It was necessary to grasp the pad with the fingers, and in the abrading action, slivers of metal often entered the fingers and caused discomfort and infections. Also, because of the relatively small size and nonrigid character of the pad, it was difiicult to hold the same and only the finger tips could be used for this purpose. I his made the abrading operation quite difiicult and tiresome. Another difliculty which was encountered is the fact that a pad of this character wore out rather rapidly and frequent replacements were necessary.

There has also been proposed a device for po-lishing or cleaning surfaces which consisted of a brush mounted on a suitable holder. Means were provided for adjusting the extent to which the bristles projected from the holder in order to provide varying lengths of bristles for contact with the surface to be cleaned and polished. Such a device is not at all suitable for the purpose of cleaning pots and pans, particularly since the 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-209) 1 bristles of a brush are not capable of accomplish- I ing the desired cleansing operation thereon. Also, the holder was of such a character and extent that it would contact with the interior of the utensils and would interfere with the cleansing, particularly in the corners thereof.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome the difficulties and disadvantages of the prior art, it being among the objects thereof to provide a steel wool pad combined with a holding device such a to allow ready and. convenient cleansing of kitchen utensils or other articles.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a structure of a pad and mounting therefor, such that the life of the pad is greatly extended without any decrease in the effectiveness thereof.

It is further among the objects of the present invention to provide a structure of pad and holding device which embodies a magazine so that a plurality of pads may be introduced into the same,

and such pads be. fed to the work in the quantity and when desired.

It is still further among the objects of the pressent invention to provide a'cleaning device of the character described, which will be convenient for use -by the operator without any danger of splinters entering the fingers, and which may be firmly held and effectively used by the operator without undue strain on the muscles of the hand.

' In practicing the present invention there is provided one or more pads of steel wool preferably impregnated with a soap or similar composition. The pads are usually cylindrical in form. There is also provided a holder having a cylindrical opening therein into which one or more of such pads is adapted to fit. This member may be considered as a container for such pads. It is open at both ends, the pads being at one end of the container. At the other end there is pro-- vided internal threads and a plunger similarly threaded is introduced into said end. The plungerlhasa' head serving as a support for the hand of the operator in using the device. It also serves as a means for rotating the plunger relative to the container to feed additional portions of the pad out of the end of the container as the pad gradually wears in use.

The invention is'more specifically disclosed in the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof, and in which like reference characters in.- dicate like parts and in which,

Fig. 1 is a transverse cross-sectional View taken through the axis or ,center line of the device, some parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; and

Fig. ,3 is a view from below showing the end of a pad in position for use.

The hollow container I, here shown as cylindrical in form, is provided with threads 2 near the upper end thereof, said threads terminating at 3 just short of the itop end 4 thereof. The base of the threads is approximately in alignment with the inner surface of container I. Said threads terminate at point 5, a substantial distance below the top end 4 in order to provide a sufficient number of threads for strength, convenience and stability in the device. The lower portion 6 of container I tapers towards the lower end 1 thereof so that the thickness at end 1 is less than the thickness of the body of container 1. This insures that there will be no interference with the operation of the pad in the rubbing or abrading operation.

A head 8 of any desired form, here shown as cylindrical, has the sides 9 provided with longi- 3 tudinal rib portions for the purpose of providing means for a firm grasping of the device by the operator. Depending from the lower \face In of head 8 is a plunger l l formed with screw threads along substantially its entire length, said threads cooperating with threaded portion 2 of container I. The lower face l2 of plunger H is slightly rounded and is smooth. It contacts with pad I 3 of steel wool impregnated with a suitable soap. The lower face I4 of pad I3 contacts with asimilar pad [5 in the lower end of container l. The lower face it of pad I5 is lcaused to extend a short distance beyond end 1 of container I. Usually thedistance between the end 5 of the threads and end 7 of the container is such that when plunger ll is in its upper position, all pads are conveniently contained in the device.

In the operation of the device for cleaning purposes, the position of the several parts is approximately that shown in Fig. l. The head 8 is grasped in the palm of the hand, the depressed potion is allowing a better fit thereof in the hand. The fingers of the operator are closed around the container 1, thus giving a firm hold on the device. It may then be used for the cleansing operation without any undue fatigue being caused to the operator. As the end It of pad i5 wears down, head 8 is turned to cause plunger H to move downwardly in container l and thus present fresh portions of the pad Hi to the work. When pad I5 is approximately consumed, pad 13 had moved down so that its lower face 14 is near the end I of container I. Plunger II is then removed by backing off from threads 2. A new pad is in troduced into the top 4 of container I and pressed down by the plunger which is then threaded into the container until lower end [4 of pad l3 extends beyond end I of the container. The device is then again ready for use.

There is usually provided in head 8 a transverse cylindrical opening IT. A handle I8 is fitted therein. This handle may be used for hanging the device over a kitchen sink or other convenient place. This may be conveniently done because there is no absorption of liquid by the pads and there is no dripping of liquid therefrom when the device is hung up.

Although I have described the invention setting forth a single embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations in the details of construction may be made within the spirit of the invention. For instance,

container 1 need not be cylindrical in form as the outer surface may be of any shape. Also, it may be provided on the outer surface with roughened portions or knurling to facilitate the holding of the device. The integral opening need not be cylindrical in form, although the threaded portion 2 is necessarily cylindrical. The pads may be of a shape to conform with the opening in the lower part of container Any suitable material may be used for both the container and the plunger and it has been found that certain plastic substances are eminently suitable for the purpose. Such materials are sanitary, have sufiicient strength for the purpose, are easily formed into the desired configurations, and are highly decorative. If desired, metal may be used for the several parts or other substances such as compressed fibrous materials.

These and other changes in the details of the practice of the invention may be made within the spirit thereof and the invention is to be broadly construed and not to be limited except by the character of the claim appended hereto.

I claim:

A pad holding and feeding device comprising an elongated hollow cylindrical container open at both ends, the inner surface thereof at the upper end only being threaded, an externally threaded plunger cooperating with said threaded surface, the diameter of said plunger being uniform throughout its length except the lower end thereof which is slightly less in diameter so as not to contact with said threaded surface, a head on the top of said plunger of larger diameter than the threaded portion of said plunger, the inside surface of the lower end of said container and the outside surface of said lower end of said plunger both bein smooth, a plurality of steel wool pads in said lower end of said container and placed in end to end contact, th diameter of said pads being equal to that of said lower end of said container, the inner end of the inner pad contacting the lower end of said plunger and the outer end of the outer pad protruding outward from the lower end of said container, said plunger having longitudinal and rotational movement relative to said container to cause the lowermost pad to protrude from the lower end of the container as the steel wool extending from the container is consumed.

MURRAY DESSAUR. 

